ethical
EH-thih-kuhl
Ethical (adj) means relating to principles of right and wrong conduct. Example: “Doctors face difficult ethical questions when resources are limited.”
adj
1
Relating to principles of right and wrong conduct.
"Doctors face difficult ethical questions when resources are limited."
"She studied ethical theory at university before becoming a lawyer."
"The board discussed the ethical implications of the new policy."
2
Morally good or acceptable; in line with accepted standards of behaviour.
"He chose the ethical option and told his boss about the mistake."
"It wouldn't be ethical to lie to the customers."
"The company prides itself on ethical sourcing of materials."
How to use ethical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishConcerning what is morally right, or actually being morally right.
Common pairings
ethical behaviour
ethical dilemma
ethical sourcing
ethically sound
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like ethical.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- ethicals
- Comparative
- more ethical
- Superlative
- most ethical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Doctors face difficult _____ questions when resources are limited.
Etymology
From ethic + -al, ultimately from Ancient Greek êthos (\"character, moral nature\").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ethical
See all rhymes for ethical →Frequently asked questions
What does “ethical” mean?
The word “ethical” means relating to principles of right and wrong conduct. In plain terms, concerning what is morally right, or actually being morally right.
How do you pronounce “ethical”?
“Ethical” is pronounced EH-thih-kuhl (/ˈɛθɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “ethical” in a sentence?
Here is “ethical” used in a sentence: “The board discussed the ethical implications of the new policy.”
What part of speech is “ethical”?
“Ethical” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ethical” come from?
The word “ethical” comes from Ancient Greek. From ethic + -al, ultimately from Ancient Greek êthos (\"character, moral nature\").
Is “ethical” a common word?
“Ethical” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “ethical” have?
“Ethical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to principles of right and wrong conduct.
What is the difference between ethical and moral?
Both words concern right and wrong conduct. Moral usually points to personal or societal standards of behaviour, while ethical often refers to codified principles governing a profession or field — hence medical ethics and legal ethics. In many sentences they are interchangeable, but ethical is the usual choice in professional and academic contexts.
What is the difference between ethical and legal?
Legal means permitted by law; ethical means in line with accepted principles of right and wrong. The two can come apart: an action may be legal but unethical, or ethical but against the law. Law is judged by statutes and courts, ethics by moral standards.
What is the opposite of ethical?
The direct opposite is unethical: breaking accepted standards of right and wrong. Immoral and amoral are related but different — immoral describes knowingly doing wrong, while amoral describes having no concern for morality at all.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include ethical:
